Frugal But Romantic Date Night Ideas

When we can not afford to go on a traditional date of dinner and a movie, Bill and I have several options for frugal but romantic date nights.

Dinner at the Lake

A local apartment complex has a fountain in the middle of a lake and several picnic tables around the edges. We would often stop for Chinese take-out and then go sit at a picnic table and watch the fountain, just chatting under the stars.

Our place

Down on the Bay, a pier overlooks the USS Alabama. This was the spot where Bill told me that he was in love with me and we often return to reenact that moment when he whispered those words and I hugged him, accidentally knocking his cup of hot chocolate into the Bay.

Snuggling at Home

After the children are in bed, we will sometimes have a late dinner in the living room, seated on the floor at the coffee table with candlelight and soft music playing. Sitting on the floor adds a different type of intimacy to the experience.

Cooking together

Bill wants to learn to cook and I just enjoy having him in the kitchen… most of the time. On nights when we make a frugal date out of cooking together, more than the stock pot gets steamy.

Movies in bed

Call us crazy but sometimes we just put a movie in the laptop (since we do not have a television in our bedroom) and we curl up with a pint of ice cream, watching something funny.

Kissing a stoplights

We have been honked at more than once for this date night. We go for a drive and each time we are stopped by a red light, we will kiss. The experience is more fun when you try to kiss for the entire duration of the stoplight without missing when it turns green.

More Inexpensive Date Night Ideas

We also bought the book, Dates on a Dime (Simply Romantic Tips) by Amy L. Bradford. Among my favorite ideas in the book are:

• Visit a local bookstore or library and curl up in a corner together. Choose a particular color, image, or word and when you see it, kiss.
• Sign up for a free class at a local home improvement store.
• Watch a meteor shower together.
• Take a stroll around a local walking trail.
• Split a sundae at an ice cream parlor.

Frugal Date Night Ideas from the Readers

We have made picnics and ate at the park. We have also gone for drives and just talked and laughed together. We sit and play instruments together (his guitar and my ukulele). We even use our grocery shopping days as a date.

~ Alicia

Scavenger Hunt challenge together or with a group of couples.

~ Wife.Mother.Teacher.

Go bowling during the week. Mondays through Thursdays nights are usually cheaper.

~ Lisa

Have a frugal date night suggestion? Leave us a comment.